SERIES 5000: STUDENTS, CURRICULUM, AND ACADEMIC MATTERS

5300 Student Enrollment, Attendance, and Records

5301 Compulsory Attendance, Absenteeism, and Truancy

A. Required Attendance

Every person residing in the District who has legal or actual charge or control of a child who is of mandatory attendance age must ensure that the child regularly attends a public or private school or is receiving a home-school education unless the child has satisfied District graduation requirements or is otherwise exempt from Michigan’s compulsory attendance requirements.

B. Mandatory Attendance Age

A child who is or will turn 6 years old before December 1 of the current school year and who has not turned 18 years old is of mandatory attendance age.

C. Exceptions

A parent/guardian of a child who is at least 16 years old may provide the District with written notice that the child has permission to stop attending school. Upon receipt of the written notice, the child will be exempt from this Policy.

D. Excused Absences

The following absences will be considered excused if they are confirmed by communication to the school from the student’s parent/guardian:

• the student’s physical or mental illness (a physician’s verification is required after 4 consecutive days of absence for illness);

• severe weather;

• medical appointments for the student;

• death or serious illness of the student’s family member;

• attendance at a funeral, wedding, or graduation;

• appearance at court or for other legal matters;

• observance of religious holidays of the student’s own faith;

• college planning visits; and

• personal or family vacations.

E. Excessive Absenteeism and Truancy

When a student has 10 unexcused absences in any term or semester the building principal or designee will provide written notice to the student’s parent/guardian encouraging the student’s regular daily attendance and explaining the truancy process.

If the Superintendent or designee determines that a student is repeatedly absent from school without valid excuse, is failing, or has behavior problems, and attempts to confer with the student’s parent/guardian have not been successful, the Superintendent or designee may request the attendance officer who has jurisdiction in the District to send notice to the parent/guardian requiring the parent/guardian to meet with District personnel to discuss the matter.

When a student is absent more than 20 days per school year and at least 10 of those days are not excused, the building principal or designee will notify the attendance officer who has jurisdiction in the District. Once notified, the attendance officer will investigate each case of nonattendance and will take all other steps permitted and required by law.

The building principal or designee may impose additional consequences for excessive absenteeism, consistent with the student handbook or published grading procedures.

Legal authority: MCL 380.1561 et seq.

Date adopted: 08/09/2021

Date revised: